Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James and Washington Wizards All-Star John Wall are two of the NBA’s most recognizable faces. Ascending to their level of expertise comes with hours of dedication in the gym, and these two guys know it.
Over the weekend, James and Wall teamed up with Rob McClanaghan for an offseason workout session. McClanaghan, one of the best personal trainers in all of pro hoops, has worked with several of the NBA’s top athletes over the course of his career, including Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James’ teammate, Kevin Love.
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What makes McClanaghan, a Rhode Island native who was a walk-on for Jim Boeheim at Syracuse, such a great motivator, you ask? In 2013, Adrian Wojnarowski, who was then working for Yahoo! Sports, asked him that very question. It seems persistence is McClanaghan’s calling card.
“You’re going to have four or five different coaches in your NBA career – maybe more – but I’m always staying the same. Every season you’re going to get attention from me,” McClanaghan told Wojnarowski. “Every summer, you’re going to get it. It’s never going to change. You’re going to get emails and texts and calls from me. I’m watching your games and we’re talking about what you can get better with, what you can add next.
“I’m going to be that consistent person in your life,” McClanaghan continued. “Your GM isn’t going to fire me. I’m going to grow with you, and you’re going to help me, help you get better.”
Despite the fact that their respective teams are rivals on the hardwood, James and Wall seem to have no qualms about preparing for the upcoming season together.